Interaction between the mammalian cell polarity proteins mInsc (mammalian homologue of Inscuteable) and Leu-Gly-Asn repeatenriched protein (LGN), as well as that between their respective Drosophila homologues Inscuteable and Partner of Inscuteable (Pins), plays crucial roles in mitotic spindle orientation, a process contributing to asymmetric cell division. Here, we report a crystal structure of the LGN-binding domain (LBD) of human mInsc complexed with the N-terminal tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) motifs of human LGN at 2.6-Å resolution. In the complex, mInsc-LBD adopts an elongated structure with three binding modules-an α-helix, an extended region, and a β-sheet connected with a loop-that runs antiparallel to LGN along the concave surface of the superhelix formed by the TPRs. Structural analysis and structure-based mutagenesis define residues that are critical for mInsc-LGN association, and reveal that the activator of G-protein signaling 3 (AGS3)-binding protein Frmpd1 [4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin (FERM) and PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1 (PDZ) domain-containing protein 1] and its relative Frmpd4 interact with LGN via a region homologous to a part of mInsc-LBD, whereas nuclear mitotic apparatus protein (NuMA) and the C terminus of LGN recognize the TPR domain in a manner different from that by mInsc. mInsc binds to LGN with the highest affinity (K D ≈ 2.4 nM) and effectively replaces the Frmpd proteins, NuMA, and the LGN C terminus, suggesting the priority of mInsc in binding to LGN. We also demonstrate, using mutant proteins, that mInsc-LGN interaction is vital for stabilization of LGN and for intracellular localization of mInsc. C ell polarization plays an essential role in asymmetric cell division, cell migration, and the proper function of various differentiated cell types (1). In the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, neurons and glial cells are produced by asymmetric division of neuroblasts that delaminate as single cells from apical-basal polarized neuroectoderm (2). The asymmetric division requires establishment of apical-basal polarity in neuroblasts; the Bazookacontaining protein complex is specifically localized to the apical cortex for polarity establishment. The mitotic spindle poles, normally arranged in parallel to the plane of the neuroectoderm, are also needed to be oriented along the apical-basal axis, which orientation is driven by another evolutionarily conserved protein complex containing Partner of Inscuteable (Pins), Mud, and the Gαi subunit of trimeric Gi proteins. The adaptor protein Inscuteable (Insc) simultaneously binds to Bazooka and Pins to provide a physical link between the two complexes; the link thereby couples cortical cell polarity and spindle orientation for asymmetric cell division.Homologues of both Insc and Pins are known to exist exclusively in animals (from insects to mammals). The mammalian homologue of Insc (mInsc) also appears to contribute to mitotic spindle orientation and asymmetric cell division. Like Drosophila Insc, mInsc is capable of simultaneously interacting with the mamm...